Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00109
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Great Lakes Northern Forests funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00109) is a discretionary research grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the USGS Great Lakes Center. The award is issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the USGS expects to be substantially involved during the project rather than simply providing funds and receiving a final report. The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.808.
The purpose of the project is to support research focused on the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (EMR) in Michigan, a species listed as federally threatened. The core scientific goal is to understand and improve "connectivity" among EMR populations, which in conservation terms generally means how well individuals (and therefore genes) can move between habitat patches across a landscape. This matters because isolated populations can lose genetic diversity and become more vulnerable to local extinction, while connected populations are often more resilient over time. In practical management terms, connectivity research can help land and wildlife managers decide where protection, restoration, or corridor planning would have the greatest benefit.
The work described in the announcement emphasizes combining two complementary approaches to connectivity. First, the project will describe how EMR genes move across landscapes, using genetic patterns as an indicator of movement and exchange among populations over time. Genetic connectivity can reveal whether groups that look geographically close are actually exchanging individuals, or whether they are effectively cut off by barriers like roads, development, intensive agriculture, or unsuitable habitat. Second, the project will compare that gene-based indicator with analyses of habitat connectivity, which generally involves assessing how habitat is distributed and how the landscape might facilitate or impede movement based on land cover, patch arrangement, and potential barriers. By directly comparing genetic movement with habitat-based connectivity models, the project aims to clarify what "landscape connectivity" truly looks like for this species and which landscape features best predict real, functional movement.
Only one award was anticipated under this opportunity, with an award ceiling of $18,977. Eligibility was limited to CESU partners (the listing notes "Others" with additional eligibility clarification in the full announcement), meaning the competition was aimed at institutions already participating in the CESU network rather than the general public. The opportunity was created on July 5, 2017, with an original closing date of July 21, 2017, indicating a short application window and suggesting it may have been targeted to address a specific, near-term research need.
Overall, this grant opportunity supports applied conservation research designed to produce actionable guidance for managing and conserving Michigan EMR populations. The expected outcome is a clearer, evidence-based understanding of how snakes and their genes are actually moving across the landscape and how that movement aligns with, or differs from, habitat connectivity predictions. That kind of combined genetic and landscape analysis is often used to prioritize conservation actions such as protecting key habitat linkages, mitigating barriers, identifying restoration sites that reconnect populations, and improving long-term recovery planning for threatened species.Apply for G17AS00109
- The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 05, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $18,977.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CESU Great Lakes Northern Forests funding opportunity (G17AS00109)?
This is a discretionary research grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through the USGS Great Lakes Center. It is issued under Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00109 and is part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Great Lakes Northern Forests program area.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the USGS Great Lakes Center.
What type of award is this?
The award is issued as a cooperative agreement. This typically means USGS expects to be substantially involved during the project, rather than only providing funding and receiving a final report at the end.
What is the primary purpose of this project?
The purpose is to support research focused on the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (EMR) in Michigan, a species listed as federally threatened, with an emphasis on understanding and improving connectivity among EMR populations.
What species is the research focused on?
The project is focused on the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (EMR), a federally threatened species, in Michigan.
What does "connectivity" mean in this grant opportunity?
In conservation terms, connectivity generally refers to how well individuals (and therefore genes) can move between habitat patches across a landscape. The project is aimed at understanding and improving connectivity among Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake populations.
Why does connectivity matter for conservation of EMR populations?
Connectivity matters because isolated populations can lose genetic diversity and become more vulnerable to local extinction. By contrast, populations that are better connected are often more resilient over time.
What are the two main approaches to connectivity described in the announcement?
The opportunity emphasizes combining two complementary approaches: (1) describing how EMR genes move across landscapes using genetic patterns, and (2) analyzing habitat connectivity based on how habitat is distributed and how landscape features may facilitate or impede movement. The project then compares these two perspectives directly.
What is meant by "genetic connectivity" in this project?
Genetic connectivity refers to using genetic patterns to infer movement and exchange among populations over time. It can show whether nearby populations are actually exchanging individuals or whether they are effectively separated by barriers such as roads, development, intensive agriculture, or unsuitable habitat.
What is meant by "habitat connectivity" in this project?
Habitat connectivity generally involves assessing how habitat is distributed across the landscape and how the arrangement of habitat patches, land cover, and potential barriers might facilitate or impede movement.
Why does the project compare genetic connectivity to habitat-based connectivity models?
By comparing gene-based indicators of movement with habitat-based connectivity analyses, the project aims to clarify what landscape connectivity looks like for the species and identify which landscape features best predict real, functional movement.
What kinds of barriers are mentioned that might reduce connectivity?
The announcement notes barriers such as roads, development, intensive agriculture, and unsuitable habitat as examples of features that can limit movement and therefore reduce connectivity.
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
Only one award was anticipated.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $18,977.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to CESU partners. The listing also notes "Others" with additional eligibility clarification in the full announcement, indicating the competition was aimed primarily at institutions already participating in the CESU network rather than the general public.
Is this opportunity open to the general public?
Based on the provided information, it was targeted to CESU partners and not broadly open to the general public.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.808.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on July 5, 2017, with an original closing date of July 21, 2017.
How long was the application window?
Based on the dates provided (July 5, 2017 to July 21, 2017), the application window was short, suggesting the funding may have been aimed at a specific, near-term research need.
What kinds of management decisions could this research support?
The announcement describes applied conservation research intended to produce actionable guidance, such as helping managers decide where protection, restoration, or corridor planning would have the greatest benefit for Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake populations in Michigan.
What are the expected outcomes of the project?
The expected outcome is a clearer, evidence-based understanding of how snakes and their genes are moving across the landscape and how that movement aligns with, or differs from, habitat connectivity predictions.
How might the results be used in conservation planning?
The combined genetic and landscape analysis is described as useful for prioritizing conservation actions such as protecting key habitat linkages, mitigating barriers, identifying restoration sites that reconnect populations, and improving long-term recovery planning for a threatened species.
What geographic area is emphasized in the opportunity?
The work is focused on Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake populations in Michigan.
What makes this opportunity "applied" conservation research?
It is applied because the research is intended to translate into practical guidance for land and wildlife managers, particularly around identifying and improving connections among populations and addressing landscape barriers.
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